India bans Coldrif after diethylene glycol detected in batch

At least one batch of the cough syrup Coldrif has been found to contain the industrial solvent diethylene glycol and multiple states have banned its sale after authorities linked the product to a rising number of child deaths in central and western India in October. The syrup, manufactured by Sresan Pharmaceuticals at a plant near Kancheepuram in Tamil Nadu, has been withdrawn from shelves and samples seized for laboratory testing while police and drug regulators investigate supply chains and clinical use.

Tamil Nadu’s drug control directorate reported that a sample from Coldrif Batch SR13, manufactured in May 2025, contained diethylene glycol at about 48.6 percent, and declared the batch not of standard quality. The finding prompted immediate action: Tamil Nadu suspended production at the facility and issued a showcause notice to the manufacturer, and the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation said it has launched risk based inspections at 19 drug manufacturing units across six states to assess wider quality lapses.

Madhya Pradesh and several other state governments have banned the syrup. Madhya Pradesh officials said children in Chhindwara district developed acute kidney...